Best Ever Albums

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:07:03 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/20/2026 17:07

So, we had the 70's listening group today and this was one of three Steely Dan albums played.

Went down very well as you would expect.

Not my favourite but a great album nonetheless.

No album for August as we are going for individual tracks from the 70's, two nominations each, which is an impossible task but I'll give it a go

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:03:08 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/13/2026 08:03

So, the final entry from me but please continue to post of you feel you want to add anything to the discussion on this album

Not my favourite Steely Dan album but still a top-notch release, it just doesn’t have the overall quality of say Can’t Buy A Thrill or Aja but then, very few albums (ever) have.

There’s obviously a Steely Dan “formula” and this follows that but with less success than some of their other albums.

We still have that great jazz rock feel and there are some outstanding tracks, Bodhisattva, The Boston Rag, Showbiz Kids & My Old School are up there as some of Steely Dan’s finest songs.

The production on all of Steely Dan’s album is top draw but maybe the production here is a little too slick, a little too polished.

All that sounds a little negative and I don’t mean it to be. I really like the dual-guitar playing on this album and the vocals are great and the lyrics are some of the cleverest and darkest of Steely Dan’s career.

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:29:56 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/13/2026 07:29

So that's the last of the tracks, just the comments on the overall album to go

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:27:50 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/13/2026 07:27

King Of The World

Very good finale to the album although, for me, not a standout track.

Grooves along at a fair pace but doesn't have anything to make it a standout track for me.

It does have some excellent dual-guitar and bass playing and it’s get a very decent melody

For me, good but not great

Link

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:22:06 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/09/2026 08:22

Pearl Of The Quarter

For me, this track lacks that Steely Dan spark. It’s not a bad track, but just not outstanding, which is what we have come to expect from Steely Dan.

There’s just no great hook here for me to get excited about. Decent track though

Link

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 02:06:22 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/08/2026 06:06

My Old School

One of my favourite tracks on the album.

A slightly different sound from Steely Dan here and I love the Great instrumentation and those guitar solos! Wow!

It’s a top-tier Steely Dan classic with great energy,

It’s just a great, great track

Link

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 09:31:07 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/07/2026 13:31

roberto71 wrote:

Actually, Showbiz Kids and Your Gold Teeth are the only songs I really love on this album. I don't know why I don't like it as much as other people do, but probably because I just don't like the actual songs as much as the other albums.

That's fair. I don't rank it that highly either but it does contain some quality tracks. If push came to shove, my top 5 SD albums would be

1. Aja
2. Can't Buy A Thrill
3. Pretzel Logic
4. Katy Lied
5. Countdown To Ecstasy

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

roberto71 — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 15:08:34 GMT

Author: roberto71

Posted: 07/06/2026 19:08

Actually, Showbiz Kids and Your Gold Teeth are the only songs I really love on this album. I don't know why I don't like it as much as other people do, but probably because I just don't like the actual songs as much as the other albums.

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Sat, 4 Jul 2026 08:52:01 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 07/04/2026 12:52

Show Biz Kids

An infectious Steely Dan classic with a hit of Coconut by Harry Nilsson

Just like Coconut, it’s got a great, funky, rhythmic groove to it. We also encounter a great slide guitar solo which is one of my favourite on the album, giving it a more raw feel than many of the other tracks

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Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:54:05 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/29/2026 15:54

Your Gold Teeth

The intro makes me think of the theme tune to the TV series Hill Street Blues. I really don’t know why, it just does (If we were going for great TV theme tunes, HSB would be right up there, but I digress)

A lesser known track from the album but still very classy with a great groove. The more I hear this track the more I love it

Link

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Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:24:46 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/24/2026 09:24

The Boston Rag

Another great track which starts off mellow as hell and then morphs into this, well heavier, rockier rag, which is sooooooo good, with outstanding, gritty, guitar playing.

The track just builds and builds and is one of the hidden gems on the album. There's a lot going on here but, as with much of the album, it’s managed extremely well

Link

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:06:46 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/20/2026 13:06

pctrooper wrote:

I love the album. My favorite from Steely Dan. My favorite track is the Boston Rag, I also love My old School and Pearl of the Quarter. The playing is great and the songs have this magical sense of atmosphere, nostalgia, and humor. The lyrics also manage to hold my attention and wonder each time I listen back. It just leaves me with a good feeling listening to these songs and entering the little worlds these tracks take me to. Very soulful, melodic, and an extremely consistent album in my opinion.

It is a great album. i always find it hard to pick my favourite Steely Dan album. Depends on so many factors and how I'm feeling at the time. Basically, they are all great but I do have a soft spot for this album

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

pctrooper — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:44:16 GMT

Author: pctrooper

Posted: 06/20/2026 11:44

I love the album. My favorite from Steely Dan. My favorite track is the Boston Rag, I also love My old School and Pearl of the Quarter. The playing is great and the songs have this magical sense of atmosphere, nostalgia, and humor. The lyrics also manage to hold my attention and wonder each time I listen back. It just leaves me with a good feeling listening to these songs and entering the little worlds these tracks take me to. Very soulful, melodic, and an extremely consistent album in my opinion.

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:26:16 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/20/2026 11:26

Razor Boy

Very mellow / almost smooth jazz track but, I’m afraid, not a standout for me.

It’s really well produced but for me is lacking that hook which would elevate it above good to great. I’ve seen it rated as an underrated gem. It’s good but not a gem

Link

Re: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:42:51 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/18/2026 08:42

Bodhisattva

I’m not sure if it’s my imagination but Steely Dan always kicked off their albums with a killer first track and CTE is no exception. A great high tempo track that gets you moving from the get-go.

Mixing in a splash of rock N roll was a great addition to the track. Love the almost bogie-woogie piano intro and blistering guitar.

Link

Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan

Johnnyo — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:21:09 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/16/2026 13:21

This is one of two albums that will form the topic for my 70's album discussion group for July

Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) by Steely Dan

The previous albums were

Aladdin Sane by David Bowie (December)
Abraxas by Santana (January)
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (February)
Bad Girls by Donna Summer (March)
Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones (May)
Every Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart (June)

Any thoughts or comments on this album greatly appreciated. I will be posting my own over the next month